Jewelry chain

ABSTRACT

A jewelry chain comprising links which are articulated in twos. The chain consists of first links each comprising two semi-links which are interassembled by means of welding and/or soldering, the first links each extending essentially according to a plane (X, Y) and being pivotably linked to adjacent links by means of pivots all of which are parallel to the respective planes (X, Y) of the first links. The chain also comprises second links which are alternatingly disposed with first links, each of the second links forming a continuous ring extending essentially according to a plane which is perpendicular to the adjacent first links.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to jewelry chains.

More particularly, the invention relates to a jewelry chain includinglinks articulated in twos, this chain including first links that eachcomprise two interassembled semi-links, these first links each extendingsubstantially in a plane and being pivotably linked to the adjacentlinks by means of pivots that are all parallel to the respective planesof said first links.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Document EP-A-0 313 711 describes an example of a jewelry chain of thistype, which includes only first links. The two semi-links of each ofthese first links are interassembled by means of simple mutual nestingof two grooves made respectively in these semi-links, the semi-linksbeing prevented from disconnecting from one another by virtue of theirplay-free mounting on pins that are all parallel and that link the linkstogether.

This type of mounting presents the drawback of being incompatible with achain in which the adjacent links are perpendicular in twos, which isdesired in certain cases.

Moreover, the mounting in question may sometimes be weak, insofaras thechain holds together only by virtue of the play-free engagement of thepins in the semi-links.

Lastly, this chain of the prior art does not make it possible to allow arelative movement between the links other than the pivoting about pinsthat are completely parallel to one another: in point of fact, a certaindegree of freedom of movement may sometimes be desirable.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is therefore, in particular, tooffset these drawbacks and to propose a jewelry chain:

-   -   in which the adjacent links may, if appropriate, be        perpendicular in twos, advantageously by forming rings of        substantially identical sizes that are engaged in one another        while leaving an empty space in the center of each ring;    -   that preferably has greater mechanical strength than the        above-mentioned prior-art chains;    -   and that may, if appropriate, have a certain freedom of movement        in a number of axes of rotation between adjacent links.

To this end, according to the invention, a jewelry chain of the type inquestion is characterized in that it also includes second links that aredifferent from the first links and arranged so as to alternate with saidfirst links, each of the second links forming a continuous ring (itbeing possible for this continuity, if appropriate, to be obtained bywelding or soldering of several pieces together) and extendingsubstantially in a plane, the respective planes of these second linksbeing substantially perpendicular to the planes of the adjacent firstlinks, and the semi-links of each first link being interassembled bymeans of welding and/or soldering, thereby forming a continuous ring ofmaterial.

By virtue of these arrangements, a jewelry chain is obtained:

-   -   in which the links are kept substantially perpendicular in twos,        it being possible for these links, if appropriate, to all be        substantially identical and engaged in one another while leaving        a free space in the centre of said links;    -   that has great strength because the first and second links each        form a continuous ring of material;    -   and that allows, if appropriate, play between the links outside        of the simple pivoting about pivots, which then makes it        possible to obtain greater flexibility for the chain.

In the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is possible, ifappropriate, to have recourse moreover to one and/or another of thefollowing arrangements:

-   -   the second links each include two through-holes pierced        perpendicularly to the planes of said second links, and the        first links each include two pins, which are parallel to one        another and parallel to the planes of said first links, the        first and second links being articulated in twos by engagement        of the pins of the first links in the through-holes of the        second links;    -   the pins of each first link are each fitted into two blind holes        opening out toward the inside of said first link and made,        respectively, in each of the two semi-links forming said first        link;    -   each pin of a first link is secured by welding or soldering to        the two semi-links forming said first link;    -   each first link includes two notches that open toward the inside        of the first link and are each traversed by one of the pins of        said first link, each of these notches being made partly in one        of the semi-link forming said first link and partly in the other        semi-link forming said first links;    -   the semi-links forming each first link are in mutual contact via        two end faces at each of the two notches of said first link;    -   said end faces interact by means of mutual nesting such that        each first link includes a portion passing to the inside of an        adjacent second link;    -   said end faces are welded together;    -   the through-holes of each second link have flared ends;    -   the flared ends of the through-holes of each second link open        out respectively in grooves made in said second links, these        grooves extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to        the portion of said second link in which they are made;    -   the links are articulated together with sufficient play to allow        angular clearances of between 5 and 30 degrees of each link        relative to an adjacent link along three axes that are        perpendicular in twos;    -   said angular clearances are between 10 and 20 degrees;    -   the first and second links all have annular forms, each link        including a hollow inner space that has dimensions, measured in        two perpendicular directions belonging to the plane of said        link, that are twice as large as a thickness of one link, said        links penetrating respectively in the hollow inner spaces of the        adjacent links.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent during the following description of one of its embodiments thatis given by way of non-limiting example; with respect to the attacheddrawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a bracelet including a chain accordingto one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the chain belonging to thebracelet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in detail of a first link of the chain in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the way in which the first link in FIG. 3is manufactured;

FIG. 5 is a view in detail of a second link of the chain in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a partial view in section of the chain in FIG. 2, the sectionbeing taken on VI—VI of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a partial view in section on VII—VII of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the various figures, the same reference numerals denote identical orsimilar elements.

FIG. 1 shows a bracelet 1 comprising a chain 2 according to oneembodiment of the invention, which, in the example shown, carries charms3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the chain 2 is formed by alternating first andsecond metal links 4, 5 in the shape of rings that are articulated intwos and substantially perpendicular in twos. These links 4, 5 are inthis case all of identical general shape—substantially square withrounded corners—and they interpenetrate while leaving a free space inthe center of each link. This free space is preferably of a size greaterthan the thickness of the links. More generally, the hollow space at thecenter of each link 4, 5 has dimensions 1 greater than the thickness eof a link, in two mutually perpendicular directions included in theplane of said link. In the example shown in the drawings, the dimensions1 of the hollow space are identical in both directions X, Y or Y, Z ofthe link 4, 5 in question (see FIGS. 3 and 5), but, if appropriate, thesituation could be different. Similarly, the thickness e of each link 4,5 is in this case identical whether measured in the plane of said linkor perpendicularly to that plane, but, if appropriate, the situationcould be different.

The first links 4, one of which is shown in FIG. 3, are formed from twosemi-links 4 a, 4 b each extending in a plane X, Y, in which X and Y aretwo perpendicular axes that are parallel respectively to the sides 9, 10of the link 4.

At the junctions 6 between the two semi-links 4 a, 4 b, on two oppositesides 10 of the link 4, this link forms notches 8 that are open towardthe inside of said link. Each of these notches 8 is traversed by a metalpin 7 that is parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the correspondingside 10 of the link and serves as axis of rotation between the links 4,5.

As may be seen in greater detail in FIG. 4, each of the two semi-links 4a, 4 b thus forms two complete opposite sides 9 of the link 4 and twoopposite half-sides, 10 a in the case of the semi-link 4 a and 10 b inthe case of the semi-link 4 b respectively.

The half-sides 10 a, 10 b of the semi-links respectively form two halves8 a, 8 b of each of the notches 8 and extend one toward the other as faras opposite end faces 6 a, 6 b that form the above-mentioned junctions 6when the semi-links are assembled.

Furthermore, each of the semi-links 4 a, 4 b includes two blind holes 11that are open towards the inside of the link and in which the ends 7 a,7 b of the pins 7 are nested.

Prior to mounting of the links 4, one of the ends of each pin 7 isnested and welded in the corresponding blind hole 11 of one of the twosemi-links 4 a, 4 b, while a drop of solder 14 is deposited in themolten state, and then solidified on the opposite end of each pin (inthe example shown in FIG. 4, each semi-link 4 a, 4 b is thus assembledon one of the pins 7 of the corresponding link, but, naturally, the twopins 7 could therefore be assembled in advance on the same semi-link).

Next, when mounting the chain 2, the semi-links 4 a, 4 b of the links 4are assembled by nesting (preferably forcibly) the ends of the pins 7provided with drops of solder 14 in the corresponding blind holes 11,while engaging said pins 7 in the second links 5, as will be explainedbelow.

The chain 2 thus produced is then heated to above the melting point ofthe drops of solder 14, which then melt. Thus, after cooling, thesemi-links 4 a, 4 b forming the first links 4 are assembled together bywelding and soldering (if appropriate, assembly could be achieved bysoldering at both ends of the pins 7), such that the first links 4 eachform a ring of continuous material and have excellent mechanicalstrength.

Advantageously, some of the end faces 6 a, 6 b of the half-sides 10 a,10 b may be provided with spikes 12 and the others with blind holes 13receiving the spikes 12 by nesting during assembly of the semi-links 4a, 4 b. This nesting has the effect, on the one hand, of promotingproper positioning of the semi-links and, on the other, of increasingstill further the mechanical strength of the link 4.

If appropriate, it would also be possible to weld the end faces 6 a, 6 bafter assembly of the semi-links. If appropriate, this welding couldeven replace the welding and/or soldering of the ends of the pins 7.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, each second link 5 of the chain 2extends substantially in a plane Y, Z (Z being an axis perpendicular tothe axes X and Y mentioned above), and has two opposite sides 15extending along the axis Y parallel to the sides 9 of the first links 4,and two opposite sides 16 extending along the axis Z substantiallyperpendicularly to the longitudinal axis X of the sides 10 of the firstlinks.

Each of the sides 16 of the second links 5 includes, substantially atits center, two reinforcements 17 in the form of grooves substantiallyparallel to the axis Y, the grooves 17 of each side 16 being arrangedsubstantially symmetrically relative to the median plane Y, Z of thesecond link 5. A through-hole 18 is made in the center of each of thesegrooves, parallel to the axis X.

As may be seen in greater detail in FIGS. 6 and 7, each hole 18receives, with play, one of the pins 7 of an adjacent first link 4.Furthermore, the hole 18 advantageously has a double divergent form,flaring from the median part of the hole 18 as far as the ends of thathole, which open out in the grooves 17. Lastly, each side 16 of thesecond links 5 is received with play in the corresponding notch 8 of thecorresponding first link 4.

By virtue of these arrangements, each second link 5 can not only pivotabout the axis X of each pin 7 on which it is engaged, but also pivotwith limited clearance (for example 5 to 30 degrees, advantageously 10to 20 degrees) about the axes Y and Z relative to the adjacent firstlinks 4.

1. A jewelry chain including links articulated in twos, this chainincluding first links that each comprise two interassembled opensemi-links, these first links each extending substantially in a planeand being pivotably linked to the adjacent links by means of pivots thatare all parallel to the respective planes of said first links, whereinsaid jewelry chain also includes second links that are different fromthe first links and arranged so as to alternate with said first links,each of the second links forming a continuous ring and extendingsubstantially in a plane, the respective planes of these second linksbeing substantially perpendicular to the planes of the first adjacentlinks, and the semi-links of each first link being interassembled bymeans of welding and/or soldering, thereby forming a continuous ring ofmaterial, wherein the second links each include two through-holespierced perpendicularly to the planes of said second links, and thefirst links each include two pins forming said pivots, which areparallel to one another and parallel to the planes of said first links,the first and second links being articulated in twos by engagement ofthe pins of the first links in the through-holes of the second links. 2.The chain as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pins of each first link areeach fitted into two blind holes opening out toward the inside of saidfirst link and made, respectively, in each of the two semi-links formingsaid first link.
 3. The chain as claimed in claim 1, wherein each pin ofa first link is secured by welding or soldering to the two semi-linksforming said first link.
 4. The chain as claimed in any one of claim 1,wherein each first link includes two notches that open toward the insideof the first link and are each traversed by one of the pins of saidfirst link, each of these notches being made partly in one of thesemi-link forming said first link and partly in the other semi-linkforming said first links.
 5. The chain as claimed in claim 4, whereinthe semi-links forming each first link are in mutual contact via two endfaces at each of the two notches of said first link, such that eachfirst link includes a portion passing to the inside of an adjacentsecond link.
 6. The chain as claimed in claim 5, wherein said end facesinteract by means of mutual nesting.
 7. The chain as claimed in claim 5,wherein said end faces are welded together.
 8. The chain as claimed inclaim 1, in which the through-holes of each second link have flaredends.
 9. The chain as claimed in claim 8, wherein the flared ends of thethrough-holes of each second link open out respectively in grooves madein said second links, these grooves extending in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to the portion of said second link in whichthey are made.
 10. The chain as claimed in claim 1, wherein the linksare articulated together with sufficient play to allow angularclearances of between 5 and 30 degrees of each link relative to anadjacent link along three axes that are perpendicular in twos.
 11. Thechain as claimed in claim 10, wherein said angular clearances arebetween 10 and 20 degrees.
 12. The chain as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe first and second links all have annular forms, each link including ahollow inner space that has dimensions, measured in two perpendiculardirections belonging to the plane of said link, that are twice as largeas a thickness of one link, said links penetrating respectively in thehollow inner spaces of the adjacent links.